Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-11-12
LOUIS LrNGa,a LETTER.

.ADOIFH IL.
LOUIS L1NGGs LETTER.
To Mr. r. j. Oglesby Governor Of Illinois
Anent the fast that the progressive and liberty
loving portion OF the American people arc en-
deavoring to prevail upon You to ihterpose your
prerogntiye in my case. feel mpelled to de
clare, with my friend and comrade Parsons that
demand either liberty or death. II you are
really servant of the people according to tho
virtue of your Office, Internationally release me-
Referring to the general and inalienable rights
OF men, have called upon the dsinherited and
oppressed masses to oppose the force of their OPP
pressors-exercised by armed enforcement OF In.
famous laws. enacted in tho interest of capital
with force, in order to attain dignifed and
their labor. This-and only this--is tho crime
which was proven against me, notwithstanding
tho employment Of perjured testimony on the
part of the state. And this crime is guaranteed
not only as q right, but as duty, by tho Ameri-
can constitution, the representative Of which you
are supposed to be in the state OF Illinois.
But II you are not the representative of the
constitution, like the great majority Of office
holders, mere tool OF the monopolists or q
specific political cliques you Will not cncroach
upon tho thirst for blood displayed by the ex-
dict would be cowardice and proof that the
ruling classes which you represent are them.
selves abashed at the monstrosity Of my con-
laton of the most sacred rights of the people,
Your decision in that event will not only Judge
me, but also yourself and those whom you repre-.
sent Judge, tnen. LOUIS LINGO.
P.s.~In order to be sure that this letter viii
come to your official notice, ] will send you the
original manuscript as registered letter.
LII
GEORGE ENGEL's LETTER.
| Dear Sir-I, George Engel citizen of the United
! States and of Chicago and condemned to death,
learn that thousands Of citizens petition you, as
the highest executive officer of the state of Hi.
| nos, to commute my sentence Of death to i'm
prisonment protest emphatically against this
| on the following grounds.
| lam not aware of having violated any laws OF
| this country. In my firm belief in the constitu-
ton which the founders of this republic be-
| queathed to this people, and which remains un-
altered, have exercised the right of free speech
| free press, free thought and free assemblagc as
guaranteed by the constitution, and have crit.
| cised tho existing condition of society and sue.
cored my fellow citizens with my advice, which I
regard as the right of every honest citizen. The
| experience which have had in this country, dur
Ing the fifteen years that have lived here, con-
| corning the ballot and the administration Of our
public functiScarcs who have becc2ac tetc,ly CO..
rupt have eradoated my belief in the existence Of
equal rights of poor and rich and the action of the
public officers, police and militia have produced
the firm belief in me that these conditions cannot
last long. In accordance with this experience
have taught and advised. This / have done il
good faith of the rights which are guaranteed by
! the constitution, and, not being conscious Of my
guilt, the powers that be may murder me, but
they cannot legally punish me. protest against
q Communication of my sentence, and demand
either liberty or death. renouEce any kind of
mercy. Respectfully, GEORGE ENoEL-
SPIES DEFENCE.
The defense Of August Spies may be found
In many sentences of his letters to Miss Van
Zandt and others, and in his biography and
his notable address to the court before sc.l
tencc was pronounced In the latter be said
among other things:
'Your honor speak us the representative O
Dnc class to the representative of another. Iwii
begin with the words uttered by the Venetian
doge Falieri to the council CT ten: My defense Il
your accusation; the causes of my alleged Grim,
your history" little later he says: THE con
tempated murder Of eight men, whose onl.
may open the eyes of tho suffering millions, ma.
wake them up. Indeed. have noticed that Gu
conviction has worked miracles in this direction
already"